There is nothing better than spending a beautiful day out with your favorite pet enjoying all that nature has to offer. However, when you and your dog head outside to enjoy this weather and become explorers on a hiking trail there are a few safety tips you should keep in mind.

Be Mindful of the Leash

Naturally, dogs are explorers. If you hit the hiking trails with your pet you may want to keep them on a shorter leash. This will give you more control of your pet, especially if you are in a wooded or high-brush area. If you are in a wide-open space and feel comfortable having your pets go off-leash you need to make sure they respond to commands and don’t run too far from you. Remember to also be respectful of others. Not everyone loves dogs as much as you and they may be nervous or anxious if they see a dog off-leash. Always have your leash close by so you can put your dog on the leash at any given moment.

Stay Up-to-Date on Vaccinations

You never know what your pets will encounter on a hiking trail. From other dogs to wildlife, it is important to have your dogs up-to-date on all of their vaccinations before you venture into the great unknown. This will keep your dogs safe and protect them from any potentially harmful things around them.

Respect Your Surroundings

Even in the wild you should be respectful of your surroundings. Although it’s not the most luxurious part of owning a dog, cleaning up your dog’s waste is a necessity that all dog owners must do. This shouldn’t be ignored because you are in the wild. Use the same rules as a dog park and clean up after your pets so the trails can remain clean for others to enjoy. Make sure to keep a few baggies with you on all hikes.

Stay Hydrated

Make sure that before you head out on the hiking trails you grab a bottle of water for you and for your pet. Keep an expandable bowl in your pocket for your dog to drink from. Don’t allow your pets to drink from puddles, streams or creeks. There may be bacteria in these areas that could harm your dog more than hydrate them.

Inspect Your Pup

After your hike is over, you want to do a quick once-over and check your dog for any ticks or other creepy-crawlies. Pay close attention to crevices or skin folds along with their stomach and ears. If you find anything on your dog, remove it immediately.

Do you have a question for Brian? E-mail him at AskBrian@hsdayton.org. Brian Weltge is the President and CEO of the Humane Society of Greater Dayton. The Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building loving relationships between people and pets. Founded 113 years ago, it is the largest and most established no-kill animal welfare agency in the area. It focuses on pet adoptions, eliminating pet overpopulation, providing education and ensuring the humane treatment of animals. For more information about the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, call (937) 268-PETS (7387) or visit www.hsdayton.org.

By nature, cats are territorial creatures. When entering a new home, they may feel uneasy in their new surroundings. Plus, if you are introducing this new pet into your home with additional pets, there will be an added level of stress. To ensure that your cat adoption is successful, follow our simple tips for bringing a new cat into your home.

Be Prepared

If you know you want to adopt a cat, make sure you have all the supplies needed for your cat to feel at home before you adopt. This will include basics such as a cat carrier, litter box, litter, food and water bowls, cat food, toys, etc. If you already have a cat and are bringing another one into your home, make sure to have separate items for the new pet.

Cat Proof Your Home

From poisonous plants to exposed cords, there are many hazards that can be harmful to your new pet. Before you adopt, make sure you cat-proof your home. Get rid of hazardous plants, pack away fragile items that could easily be knocked over by a curious cat, haves screens in doors and windows so your cat can’t get out and hide cords that could be chewed on by your pet.

Create a Safe Space

When you are introducing a new cat into your home, start small. If you just let the cat loose from the start, your home may seem a little too overwhelming for your furry friend. For the first few days, create a smaller space for your pet to live in such as a laundry room or spare bathroom. Make sure to furnish this room with what your cat will need such as a litter box, food, water and toys. As they become accustomed to this space, slowly begin to introduce other spaces to them.

Identify Your Cat

When adopting a cat it is important to make sure they are identified. Especially when they first arrive to a new home, they may be scared and wanting to run away. When a pet is adopted from the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, it is already microchipped. However, if your cat is not microchipped, you should stop in and get this quick procedure done. The whole process only takes a few minutes and no appointment is needed.

Introduce New Cats Slowly

If you already have a dog or cat, introduce your new cat to them slowly. Let them sniff noses, touch each other, but no full-body contact. When you are not home, you should continue to keep your pets isolated from each other. Once everyone is comfortable with this step, open up the isolation room to your pets. Don’t make a big deal out of it, but just let them happen upon each other. Watch from the sidelines to see how they interact. Your older pets may follow around the new ones, which is a typical territorial behavior. With time, hostilities will lessen and cats will start to get along. Just be patient and continue to work with them. If a full cat fight occurs, go back to step one and extend this process for a little longer. The slower your transition, the easier it will be for everyone involved.

Do you have a question for Brian? E-mail him at AskBrian@hsdayton.org. Brian Weltge is the President and CEO of the Humane Society of Greater Dayton. The Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building loving relationships between people and pets. Founded 113 years ago, it is the largest and most established no-kill animal welfare agency in the area. It focuses on pet adoptions, eliminating pet overpopulation, providing education and ensuring the humane treatment of animals. For more information about the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, call 937 268-PETS (7387) or visit www.hsdayton.org.

With weather warming up and the sun shining longer, it is natural to want to be outside with your pets. More of us want to take our dogs to a dog park to enjoy the fresh air and exercise. However, if you are unfamiliar with dog parks, there are a few things you should know so you and your pet maintain proper dog park etiquette.

Stay Up-to-Date on Vaccinations

Make sure your dogs are all up-to-date on their vaccinations. While many dog parks require proof that the dog has their current vaccinations, some are not monitored as closely. Because of this, there may be dogs visiting the dog park that aren’t as up on all their vaccinations. If your dog interacts with another dog that isn’t up-to-date, he or she may be at risk for contracting an illness.

Be Aware of Size

Even if you have a smaller dog that is comfortable around larger dogs, size still matters and should be something you are aware of. If your dog park does not have a separate area for smaller dogs, make sure to keep your dog close to you and don’t allow any wrestling among your dog and larger breeds. Although they may not mean harm, a larger breed can hurt a smaller dog during play time unintentionally.

Keep Pets Hydrated

Yes, most dog parks do offer some source of water for the dogs playing in their area. However, with these community drinking locations you can run the risk of spreading illnesses between dogs. This is why it is safest to bring your own collapsible dog bowl with you. If they have a source of water available, simply fill up your bowl. However, if no clean unused water is available I also recommend you bring your own jug of water with you.

Don’t Forget to Clean Up

OK, so none of us necessarily enjoy this step, but it is one of the biggest gripes we hear from dog park attendees. If your dog uses the restroom in the dog park, it is your responsibility to clean up any solid pieces your pet leaves behind. Many dog parks will have bags and waste bins available, but you should keep a few baggies with you in case none are available.

If you stick with us and follow these simple rules, you and your pet will have a safe and healthy time at the dog park. There are numerous dog parks in the area for you to try out including one right at our animal center at 1661 Nicholas Road in Dayton. Make it an adventure with your pet. Try out the different parks and have some fun as we all welcome in the warmer spring air!

Do you have a question for Brian? E-mail him at AskBrian@hsdayton.org. Brian Weltge is the President and CEO of the Humane Society of Greater Dayton. The Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building loving relationships between people and pets. Founded 113 years ago, it is the largest and most established no-kill animal welfare agency in the area. It focuses on pet adoptions, eliminating pet overpopulation, providing education and ensuring the humane treatment of animals. For more information about the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, call 937- 268-PETS (7387) or visit www.hsdayton.org.

We have all enjoyed the glimpse of spring weather recently, but as the temperatures start to warm up we will also see an increase in the numbers of unwanted litters of cats within our community. Spring is what we like to refer to as kitten season. It is the time of the year where cats reproduce and shelters all across the Miami Valley are flooded with litters of kittens in need of new homes.

With so many stray cats in our community, spaying or neutering plays a huge part in battling overpopulation in a humane and effective way. In Montgomery County alone, there are more than 50,000 free-roaming cats. Most of these cats came from unaltered animals reproducing at a rapid rate. These stray animals can pose many problems for our community. They can prey on wildlife, cause car accidents or damage to a vehicle and can frighten children.

We’ve all heard of the potential risks that household items can pose to our pets, but protecting our animals shouldn’t stop once we leave the confines of our home. This time of year, many of us spend time outdoors tending to our gardens, but did you know there are things in your garden that can create a potentially harmful situation for your pets. Here are just a few of the things you will need to look out for to keep your furry friends safe.

Fertilizers

Although fertilizers can provide your plants with the food they need to grow and flourish, they can also wreak havoc on your pet’s stomach. If your pets digests fertilizer they can have an upset stomach or could even get a life-threatening obstruction in their gastrointestinal tract. To solve this problem, read the instructions on your fertilizer and make sure you follow the recommended waiting period before you let your pets outdoors.

The Humane Society of Greater Dayton is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded more than a century ago by a group of concerned citizens with a desire to ensure that "all animals will be wanted." Today the organization still operates with the purpose of building loving relationships between people and pets.

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